In Meghalaya’s Quest For Railway Development, Fearmongering Is Costing The State Its Future | OPINION

It is a common belief among people in the rest of the country to view all the northeastern states as a single unit. They often assume that almost all people, if not all, are the same. However, the reality is very different from what people in the rest of the country assume about the Northeast, which is highly diverse.

The northeastern states — home to many ethnic tribes — differ in language, food, dress, traditions, and beliefs. Moreover, each northeastern state has multiple ethnic tribes whose interests often do not align with those of others.

While it is true that the northeastern states are highly diverse, there is an interesting commonality in the region that is often used by various groups — the fear of an influx of migrants. At various times, there have been movements, sometimes unjustified, in the northeastern states to create fear over a large influx of migrants. This is often without citing valid data.

This is not to deny the existence of illegal immigration in the region through the porous India-Bangladesh borders and the unfenced India-Myanmar border. The problem arises when the issue of influx is weaponised by some groups under the garb of 'protecting indigenous communities' — without proper evidence and based only on assumptions — to further their selfish agendas by portraying another group of people as "others" in the region.

This appears to be happening in the northeastern state of Meghalaya, where there has been opposition to the introduction of railways by some influential groups, such as the Khasi Students Union (KSU). The organisation has been opposing the entry of railways since the 1980s. Those opposing railways in the state cite concerns about an influx of migrants while claiming that they are not against development.

Their argument is that railways would bring an influx of migrants into the state and reduce the proportion of the indigenous population. They argue that without an Inner Line Permit (ILP) — seen by them as a safeguard against foreign migration — the introduction of railways would be "detrimental" to the indigenous population. Meghalaya has been demanding the implementation of ILP, an official travel document authorising the entry of an Indian citizen into a "protected area" for a limited period.

Railways Introduced In 2014

The state currently has only one operational railway station in Mendipathar, North Garo Hills. This station became operational in 2014, with passenger trains running daily between Guwahati and Mendipathar. However, other railway projects remain in a limbo due to opposition from local groups.

One such project involves a 108.76 km railway line from Byrnihat to Shillong, the capital city, with 10 stations, sanctioned in 2011. The Indian Railways granted ₹209.37 crore in 2017 for these two projects.

However, due to opposition from the KSU, no progress has been made. Recently, the state chief minister, Conrad Sangma, informed the state assembly that the state has been asked to return the funds to the Railways since the money has remained unused for seven years.

Opposition Through Emotional Tactics?

The railway has been operational in the North Garo Hills for a decade, yet those opposing its expansion have not provided any data on the extent of the "influx" that has allegedly occurred in the state since 2014. Essentially, these protests rely on emotional appeals.

The issue of indigenous communities being endangered due to an influx of migrants is easy to highlight because it resonates with indigenous populations. Due to a lack of development, jobs remain scarce, and land is the most valuable asset. Indigenous people, already facing unemployment, perceive migrants as competitors for jobs and land. However, the real issue in the northeast is the lack of proper development and job creation.

For development to occur, the state needs a proper communication system. What these local groups fail to acknowledge is that much of Meghalaya remains disconnected from the rest of the country. The capital city of Shillong is still unconnected by rail, despite the fact that transporting goods by railway is easier and cheaper than by road.

The introduction of railways is likely to reduce the prices of imported food items, including food grains. Additionally, railways would benefit local entrepreneurs and improve mobility for economically marginalised communities. Most importantly, railways would create much-needed jobs in the state.

Citing Tripura To Spread Fear

In the northeastern region, it has become common to spread fear of influx using the case of Tripura, which was once a tribal-majority state. However, the migration of Bengali Hindus to the northeastern state after the partition of India altered its demographics, making Bengali Hindus the majority.

What is often ignored is the historical context. When Tripura was ruled by tribal kings, there was already a significant Bengali population, as the kings encouraged their settlement. In 1941, the non-tribal population, mostly Bengalis, was around 49%. Thus, the increase in the non-tribal population was already underway due to policies set by the tribal rulers. Later, the partition of 1947 forced many Bengali Hindus from East Pakistan to settle in Tripura to escape persecution by Islamists. A similar migration occurred in 1971 when many Hindu Bengalis fled East Pakistan for Tripura.

Unfortunately, without considering historical contexts, the example of Tripura is being used by some local groups across the northeast to spread fear of influx. However, after 1971, there has been no significant influx of migrants into Tripura.

State Government Needs To Engage With People

If Meghalaya wants to be connected to the rest of the country via rail, it needs to support railway development. Not all parts of the state are against the railways. Many people from the Garo Hills support railway expansion, believing it is essential for the state’s development. Opposition is particularly strong in the Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills. While the state government has rightly stated that it will respect the sentiments of the people and not impose the railway project, it also has a responsibility to promote development.

The state government should engage in discussions at the grassroots level to convey the importance of railways and dispel exaggerated fears about an influx of migrants. Meghalaya is already experiencing high unemployment due to a lack of development, forcing many of its youth to seek jobs in other states. It is illogical to assume that there would be an influx of migrants into a state where jobs are scarce simply because trains are introduced.

The author is a political commentator.

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